I am quite annoyed that SDSU just made the decision to ban cars for Freshman starting this Fall/2019. We toured the campus twice over the past 2 years and most recently last month for Explore Days. At each tour, we specifically asked about their Freshman vehicle policy, and we were told on all occasions that Freshman are allowed to bring their cars to college.
Last week, the university announced that they are changing their vehicle policy for Freshman. We just bought our son a car for his birthday and we were excited for him to bring it to college as an out of state Freshman. We live across the country and we felt that by having a car in college would allow my son to learn the area of southern California on the weekends, and let him conveniently travel to the beach, mountains, and explore towns like Ramona, Borrego Springs.
We met with several current Freshman during Explore Days and all of them said it was a game changer once they brought their car to school.
So now, we have to have our kids rely on ride share, etc…
I really hope SDSU reconsiders their position, especially given that they are only notifying us 3 1/2 months before school starts!
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/sdsu-freshmen-will-soon-no-longer-be-allowed-to-bring-cars-to-campus/509-4d6b2645-1c08-4136-b130-d21bca8a62ae
@KTM350DAD I wonder if most people do not realize it was an option before? That no car for freshman policy and the live two years on campus have changed the way SDSU will be for students going forward. It does seem to be a negative for incoming freshman to not have that option. The campus must be impacted
UPDATE: We recently visited the campus and there is no real need for a car freshman year unless you are commuting. Fees for parking are steep and the parking lots are farther in some cases than the dorms themselves. The beautiful campus is self contained and has (newer looking) public transportation and nice trolley service to places off campus. You can even get to the beach on public transportation. The campus is easily navigated on foot, skateboard, scooter, or bike.(There are the app rental ones if you don’t own the last two). Most freshman live on campus a walkway away from the center of campus, some around the corner. Activities galore right there daily. Free football games a trolley ride away. Restaurants withing walking distance (on the meal plan no less) and stores like Trader Joe’s plus “Aztec Shops” all over which are small convenience stores meet supermarket meets mini bookstore that has fresh food pre-made that morning, fruit, scantrons, bottled drinks, plus a whole lot more also takes the meal plan. It is a disappointment if you counted on it but for those who just found out may take it in stride. The policy may make the surrounding San Diego less of a distraction for those first year students as they navigate college life.
@KTM350DAD I understand your position completely but it doesn’t sound from our current tour that the administration will be changing its mind on this one nor the sophomores living on campus either
When I was at SDSU there was an issue with finding parking spots; that was OVER 30 years ago.
Most of the campuses that my children attended, did not ALLOW freshman to bring cars. (UC, SUNY, Caltech).
The hassle of finding parking spaces is a pain. The fees are a pain. The parking tickets are a pain.
There is uber/lyft and upper classmen that are willing to drive. Trolley is right at Aztec Center.
I understand the frustration of being told cars would be allowed and them finding out they changed the rules. Living in San Diego, somewhat close to campus and knowing quite a few young adults who attend there many did not know about this new rule. This includes a few people we know who worked SDSU explore day.
That being said this is becoming the norm with many campuses in California. They just do not have enough parking to accommodate all the cars and traffic around the school during prime class times is a nightmare. The campus has grown so much over the last several years however the roads around the school and the parking are not areas do not have the ability to grow simply due to the area.
Your son will be just fine and he will most likely be more interested in hanging out in communities west of the campus, many of which have great city transportation, including the trolley which he can take down to the border (if he goes there I would highly suggest this route vs. trying to drive too dangerous across the border and too risky to park on this side without having your car broken into), very soon he will also be able to take the trolley all the way west to La Jolla.
Plus there are so many San Diego residents at SDSU that he can hitch a ride anywhere. I know that in some areas people don’t like to do this but in San Diego due to the traffic issues car pooling is highly pushed and most students his age are used to driving their friends places. It’s just the way it works here.
Lastly, since he won’t be bringing his car, don’t forget to call your insurance company and let them know he is away at school and his car is at home. Most ins. companies have a college student program where the rates are significantly decreased (I think our was around $10-$15 mo). This covers any issues while the car is parked and there is o need paying ins. as though it is being driven. You will also be saving money since his simply living in San Digoe will greatly increase his ins rates.
Good! This will free up more parking spots for transfer students like me who don’t live on campus.
I see this as a positive. Plus gas will be dam near $5 a gal here soon it’s already $4.50 in some places.
My son started at Cal Poly under similar circumstances a couple of years ago (Fall 2017). CPSLO had just instituted a Freshman car ban and had already required students to live on campus.We live almost as close to the Oregon border as we do to San Luis Obispo, so the travel to school is a considerable distance. Our son also had a car that would need to be left at home to sit idle while he was away.
However, it was turned to be much ado about nothing. Other than a couple of concerns about ride share and figuring out the train schedule, it was kind of nice to not have to worry about him driving all over the place. Additionally, with all the freshmen living on campus, there is not much of a need to go exploring to find social activities.
I toured SDSU with my younger daughter (junior in high school) last month right after the the ban was announced. She expressed some issue with it, but I laughed it off. I told her we weren’t going to let her take her car off to college her first year, anyway. No matter where she goes.
lol @AMCdad I agree if you are far from campus it is a non-issue. It makes the kids grow closer as they are not able to travel other places and must attend campus and close off campus activities. When we visited it was so busy and congested plus parking for anyone was difficult, not exactly close by and costly